The Supreme Court on Friday threatened the Haryana government with contempt if it goes ahead and implements a new law allowing massive scale of construction in the ecologically fragile Aravalli Hills.
A Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra told the Haryana government counsel that amendments made in the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) of 1900 pulls the carpet from under a series of orders passed by the Supreme Court over the years to protect the Aravalli and Shivalik ranges from builders and indiscriminate mining. The Bench asked the State government to place on record the details, including the provisions, of the new law.
Justice Mishra said any misadventure on the basis of the passing of the amendments by Haryana would be visited with “serious consequences” from the Supreme Court.
The court made it clear that it could see through the veil of the legislation passed by the Assembly, and that the amendments were meant to circumvent the curbs put in place by the Supreme Court.
“The amendments favour builders and will destroy the forest. We had warned you [Haryana] earlier. It is shocking that you went ahead despite our warning. This is not permissible. It is sheer contempt,” Justice Mishra told the Haryana lawyers.
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